Palestine Government Agrees to Immediate Admission of Orphans, Infants from Cyprus

The Palestine Government today acceded to a Jewish Agency request for the speedy admission from Cyprus of orphans under 18, and children under two together with their parents. In all, some 3,500 persons will be permitted to enter the country out of turn.

The number admitted will be deducted from the monthly Cyprus quota of 750 until the total is made up. The other internees agreed to waive their turn after a visit from Goldie Meirson, head of the political department of the Jerusalem section of the agency. It is estimated that the infants will number 450, their parents and families another 1,000, while there are about 2,100 orphans under 18 on the island.

Meanwhile, it was learned that the government is considering favorably a proposition that it transport the 3,500 to the mainland. During the past few months the Agency has been forced to provide transportation for Cyprus immigrants. When the internees arrive here they will proceed to various homes and institutions prepared for them by the Youth Aliyah movement rather than to the Athlit clearance camp or Agency hostels.

Two new settlements were established in the Negev last night. One, called Chalutza, is on the site of an ancient Byzantine city. The other is called Ramat Ha Negev. Both are near Asluj. The settlers were carefully selected, since living conditions are most primitive.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew which has been in effect in Jerusalem since last week’s violence will be lifted as of tonight. Meanwhile, troops continue their indiscriminate shooting during the evening hours. Several bullets penetrated the door of a children’s home here, one lodging two inches from the head of 10-months-old Itzchak Weismann.

The Palestine censor’s ban against mentioning the name of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem in the local press has been lifted, it was learned here.